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Shortlists showcase magazine talent

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GQ and the New Statesman lead the nominations in the shortlists for Press Gazette’s revamped Magazine Design Awards (MDA) and the newly launched sister event, the Magazine Journalism Awards (MJA).

GQ has three nominations in the MDA and six in the MJA, including subbing team of the year. Five GQ writers have been nominated, with features editor Alex Bilmes up for exclusive of the year for his Robbie Williams interview, and interviewer of the year.

Editor Dylan Jones said: “I think it’s extraordinary that GQ has been nominated for nine awards, especially as this is more than any other magazine. Also, crucially, it’s all very well coming up with ideas, but another thing altogether making them happen.”

The New Statesman has five nominations in the MDA, including one for its recent redesign and two nominations in the front cover of the year category. It has three nominations in the MJA.

New Statesman editor John Kampfner said: “I am delighted with our list of eight shortlisted entries. The launch of the ‘new look’ NS has resulted in sharply rising sales and industrywide plaudits, and the Press Gazette list reflects that. It shows you can have top notch, cutting edge, radical journalism that’s also a treat for the mind and the eye.

"To be recognised for our exclusives and our columnists is superb, while nominations for a total of five design awards is a real endorsement of our recent redesign.”

The two independent judging panels, chaired by the former editor-in-chief of Good Housekeeping and Harper’s, Sally O’Sullivan, and comprising 40 other magazine industry representatives, will meet for stage two of the judging process where, after round-table debate, winners will be decided in a secret ballot.

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The overall magazine journalist of the year award will be made to one of the winners from the individual categories, and announced at the ceremony.

A special award being inaugurated this year is the magazine icon of the year. It will be judged by both MDA and MJA panels, which will vote on the person or brand that has achieved iconic status in 2006. All winners will be announced at a dinner at the Riverbank Park Plaza on the evening of Thursday 26 October.

Entertainment will be provided by The Magnets, a multi-award winning vocal harmony group who have supported Tom Jones and Lisa Stansfield, and have performed all over the UK and Europe, including at the Queen’s Jubilee concert.

To book a table, call 020 7936 6420 or download a form from www.magazineawards.co.uk